University News
Faculty Members and Students Serve in New Orleans
Over seven trips, where students rebuild homes in New Orleans, have been led by professors Katie Bond-Stricker and Jessica Grimes.
In January and April 2008, both Katie Bond-Stricker and Jessica Grimes took groups of Hope and CSUF students to the St. Bernard Parrish district of New Orleans, Louisiana, a district ravaged by Hurricane Katrina. While they were there, they took part in the relief efforts through providing food, supplies, and much needed labor. Since the first trip began in November 2006, over 50 PCC students have gone to volunteer. Students usually serve for a week at a time and trips are typically led over Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Spring Break. Some students choose to serve for a longer period and go over the summer months.
Students who go to volunteer work with the non-profit "St. Bernard Project" www.stbernardproject.org. Through this organization, homes are being rebuilt for the families who are still displaced from Hurricane Katrina. Due to Hope's familiar face in the St. Bernard Parish, we are starting to build strong relationships with the St. Bernard Project and the many families we have served. Now it is not uncommon to go on trips and visit families in their new homes that we helped rebuild. A lot of students stay in touch with the families we serve, taking service learning a step further where they are truly demonstrating how to love others.
While in New Orleans, students stay at the Volunteer House. The house is owned by Professor Grimes and is located in the area of St. Bernard Parish.